Insulated container with tamper-evident, removable, and resealable lid

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the disclosure include an insulated drinking vessel comprising an inner wall surrounding an interior for containing a liquid beverage and an outer wall spaced from the inner wall to form an air space which acts to insulate the vessel interior in order to maintain the temperature of the liquid beverage contents within a desired range throughout a period of time which is normally required to consume the entire beverage contents. The insulated drinking vessel also includes a removable/resealable lid comprising at least one integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening which, when breached, allows the beverage contents to be removed while the lid remains attached to the vessel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 15/940,472, filed Mar. 29, 2018, which is acontinuation of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/478,388, filed Mar. 29, 2017, all of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to an insulated container and, moreparticularly, to an insulated drinking vessel having a double wallinsulated construction and a tamper-evident removable/resealable lidwith at least one integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensingopening. Insulated drinking vessels are well known in the art. Moreover,drinking vessels having a double wall structure with an insulating voidbetween the walls are well known. Notwithstanding, there remains alongstanding and unfilled need for an insulated drinking vessel havingan inner wall, an outer wall spaced from the inner wall to form aninsulating void between the walls, and a tamper-evidentremovable/resealable lid having an integrated tamper-evident sealedcontent dispensing opening, thereby providing a spill proof drinkingvessel which maintains the temperature of the liquid beverage contentswithin a desired range for an extended period of time and which can alsodemonstrate that the contents of the container have not been alteredsince the tamper-evident removable/resealable lid was affixed to thebody of the drinking vessel.

In particular, there remains an urgent need for a double wall insulatingstructure with a removable/resealable tamper-evident lid having anintegrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening for use inthe food delivery service industry to allow customers to order desiredbeverages for delivery and have said beverages delivered for consumptionwith the desired temperature profile while also demonstrating that thebeverages have not been altered or tampered with after the beverageswere placed into the drinking vessel and said drinking vessel'stamper-evident removable/resealable lid was attached to the drinkingvessel.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment of the disclosure, an insulated drinking vessel maycomprise a double wall construction; and a tamper-evident lid having atleast one integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a method may comprise providingan insulated drinking vessel with a tamper-evident lid, wherein theinsulated drinking vessel comprises a double wall construction; whereinthe tamper-evident lid is configured to engage with a rim of theinsulated drinking vessel; and wherein the tamper-evident lid comprisesat least one integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensingopening.

In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, an insulated drinkingvessel may comprise an inner wall configured to contain a liquid; anouter wall spaced from the inner wall to create a void between the innerand outer walls, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall join at a rimof the insulated drinking vessel; and a tamper-evident lid configured toattach to the rim of the insulated drinking vessel, comprising at leastone integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present disclosure,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view of the insulated drinking vessel according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view, in cross-section, of the insulated drinking vessel asdepicted in FIG. 1 (without the removable/resealable lid), according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view of the insulated drinking vessel according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a view, in cross-section, of the insulated drinking vessel asdepicted in FIG. 3 (without the removable/resealable lid), according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the removable/resealable lidaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the removable/resealable lidaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a different cross-sectional view, in cut-away, of theremovable/resealable lid of the insulated drinking vessel comprisingactuatable flaps which may be actuated to allow or restrict access tothe drinking vessel's openings for fluid transfer, according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the claimed material belongs. The following terms aredefined below.

Embodiments of the disclosure include an insulated drinking vessel whichcomprises an inner wall surrounding (and defining) an interior forcontaining a liquid beverage and an outer wall spaced from the innerwall to form a space or void which acts to insulate the vessel interiorin order to maintain the temperature of the liquid beverage contentswithin a desired range throughout a period of time required to consumethe beverage contents. Embodiments of the disclosure may also include atamper-evident removable/resealable lid for covering the open top of thevessel. The tamper-evident lid includes at least one integratedtamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening which, when breached,allows the beverage contents to be removed while the lid remainsattached to the vessel. The lid further serves to prevent accidentalspillage of the beverage contents. In some embodiments, the outer wallmay be transparent or translucent allowing for the inner wall to bevisible. In some embodiments, the outer wall may be transparent ortranslucent and the inner wall may be transparent or translucent,allowing for the beverage contained within the inner wall to be visible.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an insulateddrinking vessel for beverages, wherein the vessel is provided with adouble wall construction and a tamper-evident removable/resealable lidhaving at least one integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensingopening.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of a drinking vessel 10. FIG. 1shows the vessel 10 with a tamper-evident removable/resealable lid 30(also referred to as lid 30 or tamper-evident lid 30)) attached, andFIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the vessel 10 without the lid 30. Inthis particular embodiment, the drinking vessel 10 is in the form of atumbler or highball drinking glass. The drinking vessel 10 may comprisean insulated wall structure including an inner wall 12 and an outer wall14. The inner wall 12 surrounds and defines an interior 15 of thedrinking vessel which is structured and configured to contain a liquidbeverage therein. The outer wall 14 is spaced from the inner wall 12 toprovide a gap or void 16 between the inner and outer walls. The innerwall 12 and outer wall 14 are joined at an upper end to form a rim 18surrounding an opening 20 communicating with the vessel interior 15. Inan embodiment, both the inner wall 12 and outer wall 14 are formed of atransparent material. In an embodiment, the drinking vessel 10 may beshaped and dimensioned to be secured within a drink holder of a user'sautomobile.

The tamper-evident lid 30 may attach to the vessel 10 via atamper-evident band 42 and a tamper bead 40, which are described in moredetail below. The tamper-evident band 42 may be directly attached toand/or incorporated into the inner wall 12 and/or outer wall 14 of thevessel 10. In some embodiments, the lid 30 may also comprise a threadedportion 50 (shown in FIG. 6) positioned above the tamper bead 40configured to thread onto and/or off of the vessel 10.

In an embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the interior 15 (as may bedefined by inner wall 12) may comprise any of a plurality of shapes andvolumes, e.g., different cup/container shapes for containing a liquidbeverage disposed therein. For example, the different cup/containershapes may resemble a goblet, a chalice, a pint glass, a weizen glass, asnifter, a tulip glass, a thistle glass, a stange glass, and a wineglass (e.g., standard, flute, coupe, hock, and tumbler). Those ofordinary skill in the art can readily select the shape of thecup/container appropriate for the instant beverage. In an embodiment,the outer wall 14 may be shaped the same or different from the innerwall 12.

In an embodiment, the drinking vessel 10, e.g., the outer wall 14, theinner wall 12, the lid 30, or combinations thereof, may compriseinformation, markings, designs, data, or combinations thereof. Theinformation, markings, designs, data, or combinations thereof may beused by the drinking vessel provider, receiver, deliverer, orcombinations thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 5A, and 5B, a tamper-evidentremovable/resealable lid 30 is configured to cover the opening 20 of thedrinking vessel 10 (as shown above). The tamper-evidentremovable/resealable lid 30 may comprise any type of tamper-evidentclosure as known in the art, e.g., a closure which features a tear awaytamper-evident band 42 that may detach from the remainder of the closureas the closure is turned.

In at least one embodiment, the tamper-evident removable/resealable lid30 comprises at least one integrated tamper-evident sealed contentdispensing opening 31 which, when breached, allows the beverage contentsto be removed from the drinking vessel while the lid remains attached tothe vessel. The tamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening 31 maybe sealed with foil, thin plastic, plastic lined foil, a heat shrinkband, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment the tamper-evident removable/resealable lid 30 maycomprise three sealed content dispensing openings 31, 32, and 33,wherein opening 31 is larger than openings 32 and 33 and better suitedfor direct dispensing of the drinking vessel's contents and whereinopenings 32 and 33 are smaller than opening 31 and better suited forallowing a straw to be introduced into the drinking vessel for removalof the drinking vessel's contents. The integrated tamper-evident sealedcontent dispensing openings 31, 32, and 33 may, when breached, allow thebeverage contents to be removed from the drinking vessel while the lidremains attached to the vessel. The tamper-evident sealed contentdispensing openings 31, 32, and 33 may be sealed with foil, thinplastic, plastic lined foil, a heat shrink band, or combinationsthereof.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate different arrangements of the dispensingopenings 31, 32, and 33 with respect to one another. In someembodiments, the tamper-evident lid 30 may also comprise a tear-away tab37, which may be attached over (or under) at least one of the openings31, 32, and 33 (and possibly concealing the opening(s) 31, 32, and 33).In some embodiments, at least one of the openings 31, 32, and 33 maycomprise a puncturable and/or sealing boundary, wherein the boundariesmay be breached by a straw and/or other device. In some embodiments, acombination of different seals and/or tabs may be used to cover theopenings 31, 32, and 33, while in other embodiments, the openings 31,32, and 33 may all comprise the same type of seal and/or tab.

Referring to FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view of the lid 30 and drinkingvessel 10 are shown. In an embodiment, use of the tear away type ofclosure typically features the molding of a tamper bead 40 directly ontothe outer wall 14 of the drinking vessel 10 and also providing forthreaded engagement of the closure (e.g., tamper-evident lid 30) withthe outer wall 14 of drinking vessel 10 via threaded portion 50 of thelid 30. The tamper bead 40 on the outer wall 14 will “catch” thetamper-evident band 42, causing it to break away from the rest of theclosure (or lid 30). Once the band 42 has been broken, it separates fromthe remainder of the closure (or lid 30), making it obvious that thetamper-evident lid 30 has been previously opened.

In an embodiment, the tamper-evident removable/resealable lid 30 isconfigured to “snap” fit onto the rim 18 surrounding the opening 20communicating with the vessel interior 15 and the tamper-evident lid 30comprises a tear-way tab portion affixed to the bottom of the lid 30(not shown) configured to separate from the lid 30 which allows the lid30 to be “unsnapped” and removed from the rim 18. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will understand this snap fit tear away tab to be akinto tear away tabs present on milk containers comprising snap off lids.

In some embodiments, the tamper-evident removable/resealable lid 30comprises at least one actuatable flap 34 which can be actuated to allowor restrict access to at least one of the dispensing openings 31, 32,and 33 (shown in FIGS. 5A-5B). In an embodiment, the actuatable flap 34may be permanently attached to the tamper-evident removable/resealablelid 30. In an embodiment, the actuatable flap 34 may be releasablyattachable and detachable to the tamper-evident removable/resealable lid30. In an embodiment, the actuatable flap 34 may be secured to thetamper-evident removable/resealable lid 30 via a releasablylocking/coupling mechanism. In an embodiment, the releasablylocking/coupling mechanism may comprise a snap-like arrangement of aprotrusion and/or indentation 36, an adhesive, a hook and loopcomponent, an aperture and pin/rivet arrangement, or combinationsthereof.

In an embodiment, the actuatable flap 34 may be actuated on a movablejoint or mechanism to allow or restrict access to at least one of thedispensing openings 31, 32, and 33. In an embodiment, the actuatableflap may rotate about an axis defined by living hinge 35. In anembodiment, the actuatable flap 34 may be secured in a positionrestricting access to at least one of the dispensing openings 31, 32,and 33 via a releasably locking mechanism. In an embodiment, theactuatable flap 34 may be secured in a position restricting access to atleast one of the dispensing openings 31, 32, and 33 via a releasablylocking/coupling mechanism. In an embodiment, the releasablylocking/coupling mechanism may comprise a snap-like arrangement of aprotrusion and indentation, an adhesive, a hook and loop component, anaperture and pin/rivet arrangement, and/or combinations thereof.

The components of the drinking vessel described herein, e.g., the innerwall, outer wall, and lid, may be made of any suitable material, e.g., apolyolefin, e.g., polypropylene or polyethylene, in copolymer orhomopolymeric form, or combinations thereof. Additionally, engineeringresins can be employed, such as, e.g., acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene,polycarbonates, styrene acrylonitrile, or combinations thereof. Those ofordinary skill in the art can readily select a suitable material,without undue experimentation, from well-known commercial sources.

While the present disclosure has been shown and described in accordancewith several embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures fromthe instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope ofthe present disclosure which, therefore, should not be limited except asset forth in the following claims as interpreted under the doctrine ofequivalents.

Having described various devices and methods herein, exemplaryembodiments or aspects can include, but are not limited to:

In a first embodiment, an insulated drinking vessel may comprise adouble wall construction; and a tamper-evident lid having at least oneintegrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening.

A second embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of thefirst embodiment, wherein the double wall construction comprises aninner wall and an outer wall.

A third embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of thesecond embodiment, wherein the inner wall comprises one or more of thefollowing shapes: a goblet, a chalice, a pint glass, a weizen glass, asnifter, a tulip glass, a thistle glass, a stange glass, and a wineglass (e.g., standard, flute, coupe, hock, and tumbler).

A fourth embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of thesecond or third embodiment, wherein one or both of the inner wall andthe outer wall are formed of a transparent material.

A fifth embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of any ofthe second through fourth embodiments, wherein the inner wall is spacedfrom the outer wall to create a void between the inner and outer walls.

A sixth embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of any ofthe second through fifth embodiments, wherein the outer wall is shapedand dimensioned to be secured within a drink holder of a user'sautomobile.

A seventh embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of any ofthe first through sixth embodiments, wherein the tamper-evident lidcomprises a plurality of integrated tamper-evident sealed contentdispensing openings.

An eighth embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of theseventh embodiment, wherein a first opening is suited for directdispensing of the drinking vessel's contents and wherein a secondopening is suited for allowing a straw to be introduced into thedrinking vessel for removal of the drinking vessel's contents.

A ninth embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of any ofthe first through eighth embodiments, wherein the tamper-evident lid isconfigured to engage with a tamper bead and tamper-evident band moldedonto a wall of the drinking vessel.

A tenth embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of theninth embodiment, wherein the tamper bead is configured to tear awayfrom the tamper-evident band when the tamper-evident lid is removed fromthe drinking vessel.

An eleventh embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of anyof the first through tenth embodiments, wherein the tamper-evident lidcomprises a tamper-evident band configured to break away upon opening ofthe tamper-evident lid.

A twelfth embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of any ofthe first through eleventh embodiments, wherein the tamper-evident lidcomprises at least one actuatable flap configured to be actuated toallow or restrict access to the at least one dispensing opening.

A thirteenth embodiment can include the insulated drinking vessel of anyof the first through twelfth embodiments, wherein the at least oneactuatable flap is configured to be actuated about a hinge.

In a fourteenth embodiment, a method may comprise providing an insulateddrinking vessel with a tamper-evident lid, wherein the insulateddrinking vessel comprises a double wall construction; wherein thetamper-evident lid is configured to engage with a rim of the insulateddrinking vessel; and wherein the tamper-evident lid comprises at leastone integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening.

A fifteenth embodiment can include the method of the fourteenthembodiment, wherein the tamper-evident lid is configured to engage witha tamper bead of the insulated drinking vessel.

A sixteenth embodiment can include the method of the fourteenthembodiment, further comprising attaching the tamper-evident lid to theinsulated drinking vessel.

A seventeenth embodiment can include the method of the sixteenthembodiment, wherein attaching the tamper-evident lid to the insulateddrinking vessel comprises engaging the tamper-evident lid with a tamperbead of the insulated drinking vessel.

An eighteenth embodiment can include the method of the sixteenth orseventeenth embodiment, wherein the tamper-evident lid comprises aplurality of integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensingopenings.

A nineteenth embodiment can include the method of the eighteenthembodiment, wherein a first opening is suited for direct dispensing ofthe drinking vessel's contents and wherein a second opening is suitedfor allowing a straw to be introduced into the drinking vessel forremoval of the drinking vessel's contents.

In a twentieth embodiment, an insulated drinking vessel may comprise aninner wall configured to contain a liquid; an outer wall spaced from theinner wall to create a void between the inner and outer walls, whereinthe inner wall and the outer wall join at a rim of the insulateddrinking vessel; and a tamper-evident lid configured to attach to therim of the insulated drinking vessel, comprising at least one integratedtamper-evident sealed content dispensing opening.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drinking vessel comprising: a tamper-evidentlid having a plurality of integrated tamper-evident sealed contentdispensing openings, wherein the tamper-evident lid is made of a firstmaterial, wherein the tamper-evident lid is configured to engage with atamper bead and tamper-evident band molded onto a wall of the drinkingvessel, wherein the integrated tamper-evident sealed content dispensingopenings are sealed with a second material, and wherein contents of thedrinking vessel may be removed via the plurality of integratedtamper-evident sealed content dispensing openings.
 2. The drinkingvessel of claim 1, wherein the drinking vessel comprises an inner walland an outer wall.
 3. The drinking vessel of claim 2, wherein the innerwall comprises one or more of the following shapes: a goblet, a chalice,a pint glass, a weizen glass, a snifter, a tulip glass, a thistle glass,a stange glass, and a wine glass (e.g., standard, flute, coupe, hock,and tumbler).
 4. The drinking vessel of claim 2, wherein one or both ofthe inner wall and the outer wall are formed of a transparent material.5. The drinking vessel of claim 2, wherein the inner wall is spaced fromthe outer wall to create a void between the inner and outer walls. 6.The drinking vessel of claim 2, wherein the outer wall is shaped anddimensioned to be secured within a drink holder of a user's automobile.7. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein a first opening is suited fordirect dispensing of the drinking vessel's contents and wherein a secondopening is suited for allowing a straw to be introduced into thedrinking vessel for removal of the drinking vessel's contents.
 8. Thedrinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the tamper bead is configured totear away from the tamper-evident band when the tamper-evident lid isremoved from the drinking vessel.
 9. The drinking vessel of claim 1,wherein the tamper-evident lid comprises at least one actuatable flapconfigured to be actuated to allow or restrict access to the at leastone dispensing opening.
 10. The drinking vessel of claim 9, wherein theat least one actuatable flap is configured to be actuated about a hinge.11. The drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the second materialcomprises foil, thin plastic, plastic lined foil, a heat shrink band, orcombinations thereof.
 12. A method for providing a drinking vessel witha tamper-evident lid, wherein the tamper-evident lid is configured toengage with a rim of the drinking vessel, wherein the tamper-evident lidis configured to engage with a tamper bead of the drinking vessel, andwherein the tamper-evident lid comprises a plurality of integratedtamper-evident sealed content dispensing openings, wherein thetamper-evident lid is made of a first material, wherein the integratedtamper-evident sealed content dispensing openings are sealed with asecond material, and wherein contents of the drinking vessel may beremoved via the plurality of integrated tamper-evident sealed contentdispensing openings.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprisingattaching the tamper-evident lid to the drinking vessel.
 14. The methodof claim 13, wherein attaching the tamper-evident lid to the drinkingvessel comprises engaging the tamper-evident lid with the tamper bead ofthe insulated drinking vessel.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein afirst opening is suited for direct dispensing of the drinking vessel'scontents and wherein a second opening is suited for allowing a straw tobe introduced into the drinking vessel for removal of the drinkingvessel's contents.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the secondmaterial comprises foil, thin plastic, plastic lined foil, a heat shrinkband, or combinations thereof.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein thetamper-evident lid comprises at least one actuatable flap configured tobe actuated to allow or restrict access to the at least one dispensingopening.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one actuatableflap is configured to be actuated about a hinge.
 19. A drinking vesselcomprising: a tamper-evident lid having a plurality of integratedtamper-evident sealed content dispensing openings, wherein thetamper-evident lid is made of a first material, wherein thetamper-evident lid comprises a tamper-evident band configured to breakaway upon opening of the tamper-evident lid, wherein the integratedtamper-evident sealed content dispensing openings are sealed with asecond material, and wherein contents of the drinking vessel may beremoved via the plurality of integrated tamper-evident sealed contentdispensing openings.
 20. The drinking vessel of claim 19, wherein thesecond material comprises foil, thin plastic, plastic lined foil, a heatshrink band, or combinations thereof.